MONSTER SQUAD, HOBBITS, ORIGINAL GODZILLA AND MORE ON OUR BIG SCREEN (& VIRTUAL) PICKS FOR THIS WEEKEND
Movie houses are reopening which is great news for our indie film house friends. Always remember, for any cinemas reopening for indoor screenings, please check their Covid safety protocols. Masks are not just about protecting yourself, and you are in their house. Respect the rules!
Here’s our round up of picks for the next few days. Don’t forget to check out our THEATERS page, as well as VIDEO STORES page, to see what’s happening at other spots.
This weekend at the fantastic MAHONING DRIVE IN Pennsylvania it's THE MONSTER SQUAD (1987) + WOLFMAN'S GOT NARDS (2018) and Andre Gower LIVE! One of the most requested films returns to The Mahoning.. But this time they're kicking it up a notch: ANDRE GOWER, star of The Monster Squad, joins them both nights for a once in a lifetime fan experience. And he is bringing along his incredible documentary "WOLFMAN'S GOT NARDS" (which focuses on the fandom surrounding Squad for over 30 years) to share as the 2nd Feature each night! Gather up your squad, load up the car and come ready to Rock Until You Drop! Screens Fri 4/16 and 4/17. More info HERE.
At Atlanta's PLAZA THEATRE experience the majestic LAWRENCE OF ARABIA in 70mm on Sat 4/17 2pm,. More info HERE.
At Arizona's LOFT CINEMA DRIVE IN it's the LORD OF THE RINGS 20th ANNIVERSARY. Celebrate the 20th anniversary of Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings trilogy with outdoor, in-the-Shire Open Air Cinema screenings of all three films, shown on consecutive nights, and presented in spectacular new 4K remastered editions that will be available in theaters for a limited time only! Fri, Sat and Sun. Please note: These are the theatrical versions of the LOTR films. More info HERE.
On the east coast at METROGRAPH NYC on Sun 4/18 8pm (One Show Only online) catch DAYS OF HEAVEN (1978) with intro by intro by Thomas Vinterberg (Director of Oscar nominated ANOTHER ROUND). A man (Richard Gere) flees the factory floors of Chicago for the wheat fields of the Texas panhandle with his girlfriend (Brooke Adams) and kid sister (Linda Manz) in tow, only to find himself in a love triangle with a gentleman farmer (Sam Shepard). The second American film shot by master-of-light DP Néstor Almendros, much of it seen in the gorgeous gloaming hour, Terrence Malick’s lush, mythic vision is granted a touching naïveté through Manz’s improvised, child’s-eye-view narration. More info HERE.
The Drive In season continues at NYC's MUSEUM OF THE MOVING IMAGE / QUEENS DRIVE IN on Fri 4/16 with FRIDAY (1995) + STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON (2015), two touchstones of contemporary Black American cinema directed by F. Gary Gray: the ultimate hangout comedy, written by and starring Ice Cube, and a biopic of hip-hop group N.W.A. Member discount: 30% off. On Sun 4/18 catch CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977), Spielberg’s masterpiece chronicling a monumental intergalactic meeting, which won an Oscar for Vilmos Zsigmond's cinematography. More info HERE.
And at the COOLIDGE CORNER THEATRE it's the Citizen Kane of bad cinema with THE ROOM (2003) + VIRTUAL DISCUSSION WITH GREG SESETRO. Ticket purchasers will get access to an exclusive Zoom discussion with Greg Sestero on Friday, April 16 at 8pm EST, moderated by the Coolidge's Mark Anastasio. More info HERE.
At the FILM FORUM in NYC catch Alec Guinness in KIND HEARTS AND CORONETS (1949 - New 4K Restoration). Poor relation Dennis Price, ninth in line to the Dukedom of Chalfont, coolly narrates from prison his ascent to the peerage via serial murder, bumping off his establishment relations, the D'Ascoynes – from an arrogant playboy, to a bullet-headed general, to a formidable dowager, to stiff-upperlipped admiral, to a fussy reverend, and three more, all played by Alec Guinness (the family tree was expanded from three to eight at the actor's behest). But there's a final choice too for Price: between prim and proper Valerie Hobson (Mrs. John Profumo of scandal fame) and sultry-voiced Joan Greenwood ("the most endearing of English comediennes" – David Shipman); and a final oversight to be corrected. More info HERE.
The Sidewalk Cinema series at SYNDICATED BROOKLYN continues with NETWORK (1976) on Fri 4/16 and SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER (1977) on Sat 4/17. More info HERE.
A quick reminder that the much loved cinema NITEHAWK in Brooklyn, NY has reopened! Their repertory programming is still to restart but they've some fine new indie releases on the big screen. More info HERE.
In Australia at QAGOMA, their 'Motorcycles On Screen season continues with FANTASTIC MR FOX (2009) + WALLACE & GROMIT: A CLOSE SHAVE (1995), both with Archival 35mm Prints on Sat 4/17. Two stop-motion animation classics back-to-back! In the Oscar-winning A Close Shave, Wallace and Gromit discover a dastardly sheep-stealing plot resulting in a spectacular sidecar chase, while Wes Anderson’s Fantastic Mr Fox adapts Roald Dahl’s classic tale of a cunning fox struggling to give up his lawless ways. And for the Sun 4/18 matinee it's John Waters' CRY-BABY (1990 - 2K Restoration). A wicked musical-comedy from cult legend John Waters. When the strait-laced Allison (Amy Locane) falls for motorcycle-riding bad-boy Wade ‘Cry Baby’ Walker (Johnny Depp), they find their love is put to the test by the class prejudices of their town. Coming off the success of Hairspray 1988, Waters parodies 1950s teen movies with this winning tale of forbidden love. More info HERE.
At the ASTOR THEATRE in Melbourne it's two remarkable war themed classics with on Sun 4/18 at 2pm with APOCALYPSE NOW: FINAL CUT (1979) + THE DEER HUNTER (1978). Both in 4K and at 7:30pm catch THE HATEFUL EIGHT (2015) in 70mm. More info HERE.
In the Lone Star State at The TEXAS THEATRE and their SUNSET DRIVE IN catch the original GODZILLA (1954 - New Restoration). Godzilla, (a.k.a. Gojira), is the roaring granddaddy of all monster movies. It’s also a remarkably humane and melancholy drama, made in Japan at a time when the country was reeling from nuclear attack and H-bomb testing in the Pacific. Its rampaging radioactive beast, the poignant embodiment of an entire population’s fears, became a beloved international icon of destruction, spawning almost thirty sequels. More info HERE.
Miamai's NITEOWL DRIVE IN continues it's fantastic weekend lineups with more classics. Lineup includes; Fri 4/16 10pm BELLY (DMX Tribute), Sat 4/17 8pm FANTASIA, Sat 4/17 10pm RAD, Sun 4/18 8pm MEAN GIRLS. More info HERE.
NEXT WEEK!
On Wed 4/21 it's a special celebration for THE TEXAS THEATRE. Opened on April 21, 1931 with the Buster Keaton film PARLOR, BEDROOM AND BATH, now 90 years later it will screen again for their 90th Anniversary! The Program will open with Cartoons and 1931 era newsreels projected on 16mm just as they did on opening day. Admission back then was 35 cents, they are honoring the spirit of that admission price with a few special offers:
General Admission $3.50 / Downstairs reg Seating, only 60 to be sold. VIP : $35 Movie Admission + a Preview VIP Tour of the new balcony work-in-progress + a printed replica of the April 21, 1931 Texas Theatre Program. Only 60 To be sold. VIP PLAQUE $350 Movie Admission + a Preview VIP Tour of the new balcony work-in-progress + a printed replica of the April 21, 1931 Texas Theatre Program + a reservation for a plaque that will be permanently mounted on a seat in the new balcony auditorium! VIP Tours at 7pm, Movie program at 730pm. CinemaSafe Mask Rules and limited capacity admission is in effect for all Texas Theatre indoor programs. More info HERE.